Bread wrapping machine



`lune l, 1937. N, W. LYON BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March l2, 1934 14Sheets-Sheet 1 TORNEYS June l, 1937. N. W. LYON BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1954 O O wtmw June l, 1937. N. w. LYONl BREAD WRAPPING'MACHINE Filed Marsh 12, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 QM @vh NL /M TTORNEYS Junel, 1937. v N. w. LYON 2,082,408

BREAD WBAPPING MACHINE TORNEYS 4 June 1, 1937. N. W LYON v BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY /PMM' Mya/v Jun l, 1937. N. w. LYON I 2,082,408

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENToRBY IKW/ww Mro/v June l, 1937. N. wfLYoN BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE FiledMarch 12. 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 June l, 1937. N. w. LYON BREAD WRAPPINGMACHINE 14 sheets-sheet 9 Filed March 12, 1934 I 'Zay z/a Minna/Mlm# 6%@7M ToRNEYs -June l, 1937. N. W. LYON BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE' Filed Marchl2, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTO'R BY IVO/PMA# M ram a #f M TToRNEYsJune l, 1937. N, w, LYON 2,082,408

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE n `Filed March 12, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 f d?/79 /M 24.3. ZX! ,7/7 r [R f 7/ 47@ f5 /7/ L INVENTOR BY /VaAwA/r Mlm/V@dw #f ZM A TORNEYS June yl, 1937. N, w LYON 2,082,408

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1954 14 sheets-sheet 12 Q Z. ifaZ 3% m TToRNEYsi June 1, 1937. N, w LYON 2,082,403v

BREAD WRAPPING MACIhIINE Filed March 12, 1934 14 SheetS-She'et 13 ,340INVENTOR BY .45PM/w M ya# W TToRNEYs June l, 1937. N. W. LYON 2,082,408

BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE FiledMarch 12, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 'gb/@aTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1937 BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE Norman W. Lyon,Springfield, Mass., assigner to National Bread Wrapping Machine Co.,Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 12,1934, Serial No. l715,070

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wrapping machines,particularly such as are adapted for Wrapping optionally such varyingarticles as cartons and loaves of bread.

One object of the invention is to improve--upon machines of this generaltype with particular reference to the ease and range of theiradjustability. A further object is to improve the manner of feeding 'aweb of wrapping material to the machine and for cutting it off at theproper intervals. A further object is to provide an improved mechanismfor adjusting the length of wrapper cut off at each cycle. A furtherobject is to improve the manner of conveying the partially wrappedarticle through the machine. A further object is to improve wrappingmachines of the type in which an article and wrapper are pushedlaterally onto a vertically reciprocating-elevator or carrier at onestation and laterally off from the carrier at another station;particularly as to the mechanism bywhich certain folds are made on saidelevator and the mechanism by which 'the article is pushed off from theelevator. Additional obijects will appear from the following descriptionand claims.

'Ihe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a central section through a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section, in plan and on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3 3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, looking from the left in Fig. l, of the articleelevator;

Fig. 5 is a section oline i--of Fig. 3, with certain parts removed forclearness;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan of certain article forwarding mechanism.

40 Fig. '7 is a section on line 1 1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a detail of the Web cutting mechanism in its lowered position;

Fig. 10 is a side view 0f the article elevator in its most elevatedposition;

Fig. 11 is a detail on line II-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig.10, with some parts in section on line I2--I2 of that ligure;

Fig. 13 is a detail of the elevator mechanism generally similar to Fig.10 but showing the elevator in its lowermost position, certain partsbeing shown in section on line |3-I3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 14 is a section of the elevator in its lowermost position, thesection being taken on line Ill- I4 of Figs. 3 and 5;

Fig. 15 is a detail plan of the wrapper feed control mechanism, thesection being taken on line i5|5 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15, showingthe position of the parts when no article is present on the feedinginconveyor;

Fig. 17 is a detail similar to a portion of Fig. 16, showing theresetting position of the control latch;

Fig. 18 is a similar view showing a later point in the cycle;

Fig. 19 isa section on line I9--I9 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a detail of the adiustment for the gripper operating device,with the gripper at the forward end of its stroke;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the gripper operating 4mechanism with thegripper in the position of Figs. 15 and 16; Fig. 22 is a section on line22-22 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a front end view of the gripper jaws; Fig.24 is a top plan of the grippers and the adjacent paper supports on thearticle elevator; Fig. 25 is a detail section on line 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Figs. 26, 27, 28 and 29 are detail views showing successive stages inthe transit of an article through the machine;

Fig. 30 is a detail of a modication; and

Figs. 31, 32, 33, and 34 are details of another modification.

' The articles, such as loaves of bread or cartons, whichv are to bewrapped by the machine are placed upon a supply shelf either by hand orby an inclined supply chute. The outer end of shelf 50 has been brokenoii in the drawings since the particular manner of supplying thearticles is not material in this invention. Its inner end is carried bythe frame 5| of the wrapping machine. Paddles 52 and 63 (Fig. 3)

arising from parallel chain conveyors 54 and 55 through slots 56 in theshelf,lengage the rear and front ends of the article respectively. 'Thisconstruction, which is of particular utility when sliced bread is beingwrapped, is fully described 1932, and in the patentto Smith Aand Hoppe1,953,195, April 3, 1934,. arid need not be described in detail.

The chains are carried. at their outer ends by sprockets, not shown inthe present case, and at their inner ends by sprockets 51 and 58 (Fig.2) adjustably secured as in the Smith and Hoppe 'in .the LittlefieldPatent 1,843,453, February 2, 3

patent to a shortl shaft having bevel gear connection 59 with a stubshaft 88. A pinion 6| on the latter shaft meshes with a gear 62 securedto the driven part 63 of a Geneva drive. driving part 64 of this driveis coupled by gearing 65 to a shaft B8 extending across the machine,where it is coupled by gearing 61, 68 (Fig. 1) to a driven pulley 69. Abelt 18 joins this pulley to a driving pulley 1| on the shaft of a motor12. In order to secure a speed adjustment, one of the pulleys 69 or 1|is split into two halves spring pressed together, and the motor ismounted on a sliding base adjustable by means of a hand screw 14. 'Ihepulleys being provided with conical belt engaging surfaces, thisshifting of the motor base will cause a spreading or contraction of thespring held halves of the adjustable pulley, and will therefore changethe effective diameter of the pulley. By the mechanism described abovethe conveyor paddles will be advanced intermittently along the shelf 50,and will be brought to rest in the position of Fig. 3.

In this position of the conveyor paddles the article a is left in frontof a pusher 88 (Figs. 3 and 6) by which it is moved laterally off theshelf 58 into the wrapping mechanism. The body of the pusher is securedto a slide 8| (see also Fig. 1) mounted for reciprocation upon parallelguide rods 82. A link 83 connects the slide 8| with one arm of a bellcrank 84 pivoted at 85 to the frame and carrying on its other arm a camroll 86 (Fig. 7) running in the track of a barrel cam 81. 'I'his cam isfixed to a shaft 88 extending across the machine and driven by a chainand sprocket connection 89 from the shaft 68 previously described. Thepusher is reciprocated during each cycle from its rear position of Fig.l to its forward position of Figs. 6 and 26.

It is preferable to guide the article as it is being pushed from thefeeding shelf, and especially in case sliced bread is being wrapped tohave the pusher engage the article throughout its length. As a guide aback plate 98 (Figs. 3 and 6) is employed, being cut away as indicatedin Fig. 2 to clear theI paddles 52, 53. This plate is removably securedby a bolt 9| to a slide 92 suitably mounted in the machine for movementlongitudinally of the shelf, and is adjustable by a screw 93 extendingoutside the frame and operable by a handwheel which has been 'omittedfrom the drawings in order to expose certain parts behind it. Thepusher. 88 is provided with a removable front plate 95 bolted to it at96, so that the effective width'of the pusher can be changed tocorrespond to various widths of article. The articles are guided duringtheir conveyance by the paddles 52, 53 by side guides 91 and 98, andduring their conveyanc'e by pusher 88 by the back plate 98 and a guide89.

The articlesV are moved by the pusher 88 onto an elevator which carriesan article supporting platform, a backing plunger serving to hold thearticle and wrapper tightly assembled during their movement onto theelevator, certain folding mechanism, and a portion of the wrapperfeeding devices. 'I'hese various mechanisms are of novel character andwill be described in detail below. 'I'he article supporting platform,built up of three plates |82, |83 and |84 (Fig. 3) and genericallyreferred to as |85, is preferably :ribbed as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 inorder to minimize friction and to assist in securing straight travel ofthe article and wrapper. It is carried upon an elevator frame |8|i(Figs. 1, 3 and 10) -fltted for vertical reciprocation upon Thetion inalignment with the shelf 58 to a position' in alignment with a deliverytable ||1. The linkage described has the advantage of giving apracticallystationary dwell at both ends of the reciprocation, so thatample time to get the article onto and olf the elevator is obtained.

As the article is being carried onto the elevator plate by the pusher 88it contacts with a sheet s (Fig. 26) of wrapping material draped in agenerally vertical position across the open side of the elevator. Thissheet is cut from a web w supplied on a spool |28 (Fig. l) journaled ona bracket |2|. In the present machine the spool is located at the end ofthe machine remote from the delivery end, and is in an accessibleposition not conflicting with the vfeeding of articles to the machine orthe removal of articles from it. A second spool |28' supplies anadditional web w' in case a double wrap is desired, or may be used tofacilitate a rapid change 'from an exhausted spool to a fresh one. Thetwo webs are generally handled as a unit, and will be considered as aunit in the following description. The web passes over a guide roll |22around a snubbing roll |23, and then over` a floating roll |24 carriedin arms |25 pivoted to the machine frame at |26. A spring |21 isstretched between a lug on each arm |25 and a cross rod |28 on the frameso that as viewed in Fig. l the arms are given a constant tendency torotate in a clockwise direction so as to draw upwardly a loop ofwrapping material between the snubbing roll |23 and a pair of stationaryguide rolls |29 and |28' for the webs w and w'. As long as the loop istaut it will be drawn tightly around the snubbing roll |23, which iscontinuously rotated by a sprocket and chain connection |38 from theshaft 66. 'I'he surface of the snubbing roll is covered with africtional material, so that additional material will be unwound.- fromthe spools as long as the floating roll |24 is keeping the f loop taut.As soon as the floating roll reaches the limit of its motion theunwinding action of the snubbing roll automatically ceases.

After leaving the roll |29 the web w passes be.

tween a pair of rolls |35 and |36 (Figs. l, 4

and 10) mounted upon the elevator frame |88. The lower of these tworolls is mounted directly in an extension |31 of the elevator frame, andcarries a ratchet |38 prevented from rearward rotation by a spring pawl|39. lThe upper roll |36 is journaled in two arms |48 swinging uponpivots |4|. Each arm is formed with a socket receiving a compressionspring |42, the other end of which bears against an abutment |43, sothat the two rolls are held yieldingly together at all times. It will beapparent that while paper may be pulled freely through the rolls towardsthe article receiving side of the elevator it cannot be drawn backwardlyon account of the pinching action of the rolls and the holding action ofthe ratchet |38. The web then passes normal position of Fig. 14 to aposition parallel .to the main elevator plate whenever the elevatorreaches its uppermost position, in order to present the leading edge ofthe web to the reciproi eating grippers as Will be described below. In

. order to tilt the plate a stud |41 is secured to each end of it as bynuts |48. At its upper end each stud is bent over at I 49 to passthrough, and to form a pinned connection with, an arm |50 pivoted to theelevator fra-me |06 at |5|. A spring |52 is stretched between a lug onthe arm and a pin |53fon the elevator frame, so that unless the arms |50are positively moved the plate |46 will be `held in its upper position.When the elevator nears the upper limit of its stroke the arms |50strike stationary rolls |55 (Figs. 1 and 10) supported on brackets |56(Fig. 12) projecting inwardly from the main machine frame Each arm ispreferably provided with a tail |58 so that if its supporting springshould break the tail will engage the pin |53 and prevent the platedropping sufficiently to cause damage to the machine.

The free end of the plate |86 is provided with spaced projecting fingers|60 best shown in Figs.

12 and 24. A relatively narrow paper retainer |61 (Fig. 10) is locatedabove this end of the plate, having fingers 62 corresponding to those onthe plate. The paper retainer is held to springs 163 as by a rivetconnection |68, the springs being conveniently secured to the plate |46by the nuts |48 which hold the studs |41. The spring support of thepaper retainer is not so much to exert any tension on the paper as to 5permit the retainer to be lifted manually in.

order to facilitate the threading in of a fresh web of wrappingmaterial. The projecting fingers |60 and |62 act, as Will be moreclearly apparent when the reciprocating grippers have been described,Ito hold the forward edge of the web in position for engagement by thegripper jaws.

The feeding of the web beyond the fingers ,|60, |62 can mostconveniently be considered when the elevator is in its upper position asshown in Fig. 27. In that position the web supporting plate |46 is down,and the end of the web (having previously been cut by means to bedescribed below) projects slightly beyond the fingers |60, |62. `It isthus held for seizure by a reciprocating gripper comprising a.stationary lower jaw and a movable upper jaw |1| fixed and pivotedrespectively to a cross shaft |12. Lugs |13 and |14 on the upper andlower ;5 jaws are connected by springs |15 (Figs. 24 and to draw thejaws tightly together when permitted by the gripper operating mechanism.One of the jaws is formed with a groove |16 and the other with a tonguemating with it,

0 so that the web will be corrugated as shown in Figs. 28 and 29, andthe tightness of the grip markedly improved. Both of the jaws arenotched at |18 (Fig. 24) to correspond with the fingers |60 and |62.Irrespective of any-crum- ;5 pling or wrinkling of the exposed end ofthe web,

the portions between the fingers |60 and |62 will always be relativelystraight. As is clearly shown in Fig. 28, the grippers enter well beyondthe ends of the fingers and can close upon the 0 web in that position,the notches |18 being wide enough to give ample clearance. A much moreuniform action of the grippers is obtained by this means than with priordevices.

Each end of the gripper supporting shaft `5 |12 is fixed in a carriage|80 (Figs. 23 and 24) attached to a slide |8| running longitudinally ofthe. machine on guideways |82. Each carriage bears a rack |83 (Figs. 22and 23) meshing with a pinion |84 (see also Fig. 21) on a cross shaft|85. A pinion |86 .fixed on this shaft meshes with a segment gear |81whose hub |88 is loose upon the shaft 86`previously referred to. Thissegment gear is oscillated to cause reciprocation of the grippers bymechanism adjustable to vary their travel without changing their endposition of Fig. 28 where they pick up the web. Change in the length ofweb drawn out at each cycle is secured by changing the rear end point oftravel. lTo drive the grippers a crank |90 (Figs. 15 and 16) is fixed tothe constantly rotating shaft 88, and drives through a link |9| a crank|92 on a cross shaft |93. A second crank |95 (Figs. 20, 21, and 22) isfixed to the shaft |93 at a point inside the machine frame. 0n thesegment gear |81, which it will be recalled is free to oscillate on theconstantly driven shaft 88, is an arm |95 having an eccentric arcuatevslot |96 formed in it. Also free upon the shaft 88 is a second arm |91having a straight slot |98 inclined at an angle to the slot |96. A pin|99 extends through both slots and may be moved back and forth in theslot |98 by an adjusting screw 200. A link 20| connects the pin |99 withthe crank |95. The slot 96 is concentric with the crank pin ofy crank|95 when the parts are in the position of Fig. 20, in which the gripperis in its initial web grasping position. A change in the position of pin|99 obtained through the" adjusting screw 200 will change the radialposition of the pin |99 relative to the shaft 88 but due to theengagement of the pin with the arcuate slot |96 the pin will beconstrained to rotate about the crank pin as a radius and no change inthe position of the gripper operating segment gcar |81 will result. Itwill be observed that the described relation between the arcuate slotand the crank pin does not hold for any 'position of the parts otherthan the initial web-grasping position of Fig. 20, as will be clear fromFig. 22. In the latter position the change vin radial position of thepin |99 is combined with .its motion along the slot |96 to change theangular position of the segmental gear. The extent of travel of thegripper can thus be vvaried easilyv without changing its extreme forwardstopping point.-

The opening and .closing of the gripper is controlled by an adjustablecam, cooperating in a manner to be described with the crank adjustmentjust considered. On the shaft 88 is fixed a cam 205 (Figs. 16, 17, and18). Beside it, but

free on the shaft, is a second cam 206 having an arcuate slot 201through which passes a clamping stud 208 on. the first cam. The two camshave their outer surfaces concentric, -so that they form in effect asingle cam of adjustable length. Resting on the surface of thiscomposite cam isa roll 209 carried by an arm 2|0 fast on a cross shaft2||. That shaft also carries an arm 252 (Figs. 1, l5, 16, 20 and 22)pivoted at 2|3 to a bar 2|4 extending lengthwise along the line oftravel of the gripper and supported at its other end by an arm 2|5(Figs. 1 and 24) pivoted to the frame. The arms 2|2 and 2|5 form aparallel motion support for the bar. An arm 2|6 (Fig. 24) is secured tothe movable element |1| of the gripper and carries a roll 2|1 held'bysprings |15 in constant contact with the under side of the bar 2|4 (Fig.1)..

As the roll 209' rides olf the end of cam 205 the bar 2I4 will beelevated and the gripper will be closed. This occurs at the extremeforward end of the travel of the gripper, a position which is fixedirrespective of the length of stroke imparted to the gripper. The pointin the cycle at which the gripper will be opened is determined by thepoint when the bar 2|4 is lowered by the roll 209 riding up on theadjustable cam 206. This adjustment is used in connection with theadjustment 200 which controls the length of. stroke given to thegrippers, being set so as to open the gripper just prior to thetermination of the grippers movement. The adjustment 200 thus forms a.very accurate means of regulating the length of sheet drawn out, theadjustment 208 being changed to follow it, and also being used as acoarser adjustment where sheets shorter than those delivered by theshortest possible travel of the gripper are to be drawn out.

It is desirable to make provision for omitting the feeding of the web incase no article is presented for wrapping. In the present case this isdone by preventing the closing of the gripper, allowing it toreciprocate back and forth as usual. An arm 220 (Figs. to 18) is pivotedfreely on the shaft 2| I, and bears at its end ashoe 22| adapted to restupon articles being fed to the machine by the conveyor pushers 52. Thearm also bears a roll 222 adapted to engage the side of a latch 223pivoted to the frame at 224 and held against too free turning by afriction spring 225 (Fig. 19). A cam surface 226 is-formed on the latchin position' to be engaged by the roll 222 when the arm 220 is loweredas in Fig. 16, and a ledge 221 is formed upon it in line to engage theend of the gripper operating cam lever 2|0.

The arm 220 is arranged to be raised and lowered periodically by a roll228 riding on a cam 229 on shaft 88. The lowering of the arm is timedIto occur at a time when an article a has been brought to rest by thefeeding-in conveyor at the stopping position just prior to the one inwhich the article is in front of-the pusher 80. If an article is inposition on the conveyor the arm 220 will not descend below the positionof Fig. 1'1. If, however, an article is absent as in Fig. 16 the armwill descend until the lroll. 222 strikes the cam surface v226, causingthe latch 223 to be swung until its ledge 221 underlies the end of lever2|0, which at that time is held elevated by the cam 205, 206. Thegripper is-at this time near the rear of its stroke, having released thedrawn out web, and is about to move forwardly to receive the freshly cutweb end. It is normally held open during 4this forward stroke by the cam205, 206, and

would close at the forward end of the stroke by the passage of the roll208 off the end of cam 205. This action isy` not permitted in thel caseunder consideration because of the inter-position of ledge 221underneath the arm 2|0. The arm 220 has meanwhile been elevated by itscam 229, but the' friction spring'- 225 prevents the latch moving backuntil it is positively shifted. The latch will hold the gripper openduring its rearward travel, and no wmrapper will be drawn out.

When the gripper reaches about the point in its cycle at which it wouldnormally be opened by the cam 206 the latch is pushed over into theposition shown in Fig. 1'7 by a cam 230 striking against the tail 23| ofthe latch. At about the same period the arm 220 is again permitted todescend by its cam. If now an article is in place on the conveyor as inFig. 17 the arm 220 will be held elevated, and the ledge 221 will remainout of the path of the end of arm 2I0. Opening and closing of thegripper will take place under these conditions in accordance with thecam 205, 206 without interference by the latch. As a safety measure thelatch carriers a member 232 which limits the upward throw of arm 2|0,preventing it from being thrown upwardly by its cam when the machine isoperated at high speeds.

As is best shown in Fig. 28, the gripper reaches its forward positionand vseizes the end of the web w at a time when the elevator is raisedto a level with the delivery plate I I1 and the paper holding plate |46is turned to a horizontal position. The gripper closes upon the portionof the web extending between the fingers |60 and |62, the notches |18permitting it to clear the fingers, and due to the shape of the gripperjaws bends the web into a. sharp U-shape. A very firm grip is therebymaintained. The gripper moves away so as to clear the elevator beforethe latter descends, drawing out the web between the bottom of thedelivery plate ||1 and a web supporting plate 240. This .plate iscarried on arms 24| (Figs. l and 2), pivoted at 242 to the machineframe. These arms have a lose connection with a rod 243, and arepermitted a slight adjustment by a set screw 244. The arms also carry aroll 245 extending across tne web at the edge of the plate 240. Thisroll cooperates with a rubber surfaced roll 246 to guide the web and thecut sheet as will be descrobed.

Mounted on a cross shaft 250 (Fig. 2) are arms 25| spaced at op'positesides of the machine. These arms carry the roll 246 before mentioned,and are connected by a web 252 (Fig. 28) which when the arms areelevated are aligned with a plate 253 forming an extension of thedelivery plate l1. An arm 254 (Fig. 2) is also connected to the shaft250, and is joined by a link 255 with a rocker 256 pivoted to the frameat 251. This rocker bears a roll 258 held against a cam 259 on the shaft88 by a spring 260. A second' cam 26| is held to the side of cam 259 bya stud 262 passing through a slot 263 in cam 26| and into threaded holes264 in the cam 259. The roll 258 is broad enough to straddle both cams,the narrower cam 26| acting as an adjustable projection of the largerone. The main part of the cam acts to swing the roll 246 from itselevated position of Fig. 28 to its lowered position in contact withroll 245 as shown in Fig. 26. The shorter cam 26| serves to give atemporary squeezing pressure between the rubber surfaced rolls 245 and246 and to prevent movement of the web between them during that period.It may be used to prevent the web being drawn backward by any residualdownward movement of the elevator left after the grippers have opened;or may be adjusted to apply a short tension to the trailing end of theweb as the article and wrapper are fed together into the elevator, andthus-to tighten lthe wrapper around the article. The rolls 245 and 246coact to maintain the lateral alignment of the web as it is, being drawnbctween them.

In its upper position the roll 246 contacts with a roll 210 (Figs. l0and 11) carried on yokes 21| pivoted at 212 to the front end of theelevator frame |06. A spring 213 is stretched between a lug 214 on eachyoke and a lug 215 on the elevator frame so that the roll 210 isconstantly urged in the direction of the roll 246. This' motion islimited by a set screw 216, adjustably held by a nut 211, which contactswith an abutment 218 on each yoke. By varying the adjustment of the setscrews the pressure between the rolls 218 and4 246 can be varied. Aswill be apparent from Figs. 27 and 28, these rolls grasp the trailingend of the wrapper flap between them as the partially wrapped article ispushed off the elevator, giving a tension to the wrapper which can beregulated by set screws 216.

Fig. 29 shows the elevator about to begin its descent, with the gripperdrawing the web away from the elevator and the roll 246 on its waytowards web guiding contact with the roll 245. As the elevator movesdown the web supporting plate |46 will be swung upwardly to the.clanting position shown in Fig. 14, and the web brought into adjacencyto the roll 218 and to a cutting' block 288 carried by the elevator andhaving a cutting groove 28|. When the elevator reaches its lowermos'tposition the web is severed by a movable knife 282, preferably slantingfrom one side of the web to the other so as to give a shearing cut.'This knifeis mounted on brackets 288 (Fig. 9) extending from a carrier284 secured to rods 285 vertically slidable in brackets 286 (Figs. 3, 5and 8) attached to the sides of the frame. Pivoted to the rods 285 arearms 281 (Fig. l) fixed on a shaft 288. An arm 289 also fixed on thisshaft carries a roll 298 running on the surface of a cam 29| having anadjustable roll operating portion 292 secured to the main body of thecam as by a stud and slot connection 298. The timing of the cutterrelative to the elevator may thus be controlled. A spring 294 (Fig. 8)is compressed between each bracket 286 and the carrier 284 so as toassist the weight of the parts in in suring that the roll 298 followsits'cam.

It is preferable to clamp the web to the cutting block 288 on each sideof the knife while the cutting is taking place. For this purpose aseries of rubber grips295 (Figs. 5, 8, 9, 13, and 14) are mounted uponthe upper ends of rods 298 attached to a bar 291. The bar is independentof the knife carrier in its movement,

but is guided by a pair of rods 298 (Figs. 5 and 8) extending downwardlyfrom the latter` carrier and passing freely lthrough holes formed in thebar 291. Springs 299 are attached to the bar 291 at each end and also tothe stationary brackets 286. When-the elevator is up these springssupport the bar in the position of Fig. 9, upward movement of the barbeing restrained by contact with the carrier 284. When the elevatordescends the cutting block 288 will bring the web adjacent the grips295. At about the same time the knife will rise to sever the web, andwill immediately retract. flap b can bg changed by varying the time ofrelease of the knife, and `therefore the rubber grips. Since the packageis being pushed onto the elevator at this time a delay in releasing thegrips will result in causing the sheet to slip The length of the acts tolimit the free sliding movement of the slideA on the platform and toperform certain other functions to be described.A The arm 888 is fixedon a shaft 881 supported on; the slide, and is free to turn and to causecorresponding .rotation `of the shaft. A lug 888 (Figs. 3 and 26)extending from the shaft is attached to a spring 889 stretched to theforward end of the slide. Onthe ends of the shaft are rearwardlyextending arms 3|8 overlying headed friction pads 3|| Aextending throughholes in the slide and bearing against the upper surface of the plate|83. As the arms 3|8 swing downwardly against the pads as in Figs. 26and 27, they press the pads against the plate |88 and exert a brakingaction on the slide. When the arms are `raised the slide is free to moveforward and back on the elevator except when restrained by other meansnow to be described.

The mechanism for operating the backing plunger, which also serves as anelecting plunger, is not carried by the elevator, but at both itsreceiving and delivery stations the slide is moved by some agencylocated at the respective station. At the article receiving station theslide is of course moved rearwardly by the article under the influenceof the plunger 88. At its delivery station the slide is moved by anejector arm 3|5 (Figs. 1, v2 and 27) bearing a roll 3|6 at its end andxed on the shaft |26.

kOri one end of this shaft (Fig. 2) is an arm ing mechanism that arenovel and requirev special attention. The start of the electingoperation is shown' in Fig. 2'7, where the elevator is just reaching itsuppermost position and the arm l8|5 is swinging forward. Shortlylafterthe position shown-in this figure the roll 8|6 contacts with an abutment324 on the rear of the backing plunger slide 382. As the ejector armswings forward it moves the slide to the position of Fig. 28, in whichthe article contacting plate 888 has been moved well beyond the edge ofthe elevator and above the web 252 which serves as an extension of thedelivery channel.

It should be noted that even though the backing plunger is carriedentirely by the elevator, it moves -in its ejecting movement beyond theedge of the elevator so as to position the article well on the deliverychannel. The elevator cannot, of course, descend with the electingplunger in that condition, and as the elevator has a very rapid downwardstroke, special provision has tobe made in order to avoid mechanical finterference. Some measure of protection in this respect is obtainedfrom the fact that the roll 248 and the web 252 act as a part of thedelivery channel, and these parts are rapidly swu'ng down out of the wayas shown in Fig. 29 as the elevator is about to begin its downwardstroke. The main reliance for getting the backing plunger out of theway, however. is the very rapid rearward movement which this plungerpossesses by reason ofthe fact that this movement is accomplished byspring 309 instead of by lever operated means.

As the electing arm 3|5 reaches the full line position of Fig. 28, inwhich it has forced the backing plungery to the forward limit of itsmotion, it does not reverse its stroke, but continues to the dotted lineposition in which the roll 3|6 10 has been raised clear of the abutment324. In the forward movement of the backing plunger the arm 306 has beenbrought to the end of the slot 305 and has accordingly been arrested inits movement, rotating the shaft 301 and stretching the spring 309. Thearms 3|0 which are also carried by the shaft 301 are, by the same cause,raised clear of the friction pads 3| I. As soon as the roll 3| 6 passesthe top of the abutment 324 the force resisting the tension of spring309 is removed, and the whole backing plunger slide 302 is pulledrearwardly on the elevator by the pressure of arm 306 on the end of slot305.

During the first part of this movement the slide is unrestrained and thetravel is therefore very rapid. As the slide reaches a position whereits article contacting face is in substantial alignment with the forwardedge of the elevator, the arms 3| 0 come into contact with the frictionpads 3|| and bring the slide gradually to rest. The slide is now out ofdanger of striking parts of the machine during the descent of the`elevator. When the elevator reaches its lowermost position and anarticle is forced onto it the slide 302 is still restrained by thefriction pads, and will be moved rearwardly by the article under someresistance so that a tight wrap is secured.

The wrapper folding appliances will now be considered. As the article ismoved onto the elevator (Fig. 26) one side of the article contacts withthe area c of the wrapper and a flap b is folded underneath the articleby contact with the elevator plate |05. The top of the article iscovered by a flap` d which is laid down by a roller 330 extending acrossthe elevator as shown in Fig. 3 and mounted on arms 33| pivoted to theelevator frame at 332 (Figs. 13, 14, 26 and 27). A bracket 333 ismounted on each pivot 332 and is adjustably coupled to each arm by astud and slot connection 334. Attached to each bracket 333 is a roll 335adapted to contact with a stationary cam 336 attached to each verticalelevator guide |01. These cams raise the roll 330 slightly when theelevator is in article receiving position, yso that there will-be nointerference y with the incoming article; at other times permitting therollsv 335 m drop against stops 331 which hold the roll 330substantially in engagement with the top of the article. The roll 330 isnot primarily intended as a tensioning device,

as this function is accomplished by the grip on the wrapper maintainedby the rolls 245. and 246,

but acts mainly to insure the smooth and regular formation of the top apd.

As the article is first placed on the elevator the opposite end tucksare formed by a pair of folders 340 (Figs. 3, 4 and 26) each supportedon a bracket 34| pivotedat 342 to the elevator frame. 'I'he pivotsextend through slots 343 (Fig.

3) in the elevator frame |06 and are secured in place by nutsV 344 (Fig.14). Each bracket 34| bears an arm 345 having pivoted to it a slottedblock 346 loosely straddling a plate 341. Each plate 341 is journaled atone end in a central bracket 348 on the elevator frame, and at the'other end on the frame itself. As the platea are rocked the foldersl340 will be swung from the tilted position of Fig. 3 to a position inwhich they closely embrace the sides of the article. By using theslotted block and plate connection this movement of the folders is madeindepend- 5 ent of their lateral adjustment on the elevator. To rock thefolders an arm 350 (Figs. 13 and 14) is secured to the outer end of eachof the plates 341, bearing at its end a roll 35|. These rolls arepressed against stationarycams 352, secured l0 to the elevator guides|01, by springs 353. When the elevator is down the folders separate as`in Fig. 3. As soon as the elevator starts to rise, however, the rolls35| will leave the cams 352 and the folders will close upon the packageto tighten le the folds. It is preferred to make the folders V-shaped incross section, as shown best in Fig. 4. This both increases theirrigidity and reduces the friction of the folders on the wrapper.

As the articles with the wrapper partially fold- 20 ed around them arecarried by the elevator into alignment with the delivery channel, theoutstanding upper end flaps are folded down by stationary folders 360(Fig. 1). Each of these folders is.carried on a bracket 36| mounted on25 rods 362 running longitudinally alongside of the delivery channel,the rods being supported on brackets 363 adjustably mounted on the rod|28 previously described and a similar one |28 further down the deliverychannel. Folders 364 and 3Q 365, forming respectively the front andbottom end folds, are also secured to the rods 362 by brackets 366 andpresent between them the usual upwardly inclined slots 361 along whichthe lower end flaps travel. Guide plates 368 are also 35 held'bybrackets 366 in position to guide the ends of the completely'wrappedpackage during the heat sealing of its end naps. Heaters 310 (Fig.

2) of the usual electrical type are preferably provided for the folders360, 364 and 365, the plate 40 I|1, and the guides 368.. The articlesare pushed down the channel by contact one with another, until theyreach a supporting belt 31| and side belts 312 suitably mounted, anddriven by a chain connection 313 from the shaft 83. It is 45 preferredto use two belts 312, one above the other, as this gives somewhatgreater flexibility in dealing with articles of irregular' contour.

In Fig. 30 is shown a modication which is of utility in increasing therange of sizes of 50 A the articles which may be wrapped. In this casethe roll 246 is replaced by a similar roll 246' on an arm 25|' pivotedon shaft 250 in the same way as arm 25| but being somewhat shorter. inlength.. The arm 25|' is rocked by 55 an arm 254' operated by the link255 previously described. Also coupled to the arms 25| and 254 at eachside of the machine is an adjustable link 40| pivoted to one arm 402 ofa bell crank mounted on shaft 244 and having a 60 second arm 403. Thearms 403 carry between them a roll 245' generally corresponding to theroll 245 but positioned somewhat nearer to the l elevator. The rolls245' and 246' are arranged to meet at about the center line of thegripper b5 and move respectively down and up as indicated in dottedlines to permit the gripper to pass. In its full line position the roll245 is higher than the roll 245 previously described and thus givesgreater space under it for an 70 article passing onto the elevator. Dueto the placing of the roll nearer the elevator it clears the articles onthe feeding in conveyor when it vis in its dotted line position. Thechanged position of this roll is also found to be of advan- V75

